Day Thirty-Seven (May 16) (Birmingham, AL)
Prisoners All
Donaldson Correctional Facility at Birmingham is a maximum security prison. It held its first Vipassana course in January this year. Goenkaji visited the facility on the last day of the second course there. He was welcomed at the gates by Dr. Debra Marshall the prison psychologist who had taken a ten-day course earlier at VMC, Mass.
Double Responsibility
First Goenkaji went to the prison gymnasium, which had been transformed into a temporary Meditation Hall for both the courses. Students from both the first and second courses were meditating there. Goenkaji expressed joy at being able to visit the meditators in prison. He gave a short talk at the end of the group sitting. He said that in addition to working for their own liberation if they practice regularly they would fulfil two more responsibilities. First, they will be a good example for fellow inmates so that they would also be inspired to give a trial to Vipassana. Second, it will make the Vipassana program in Donaldson Facility a success, which in turn will make the government take notice. This will give inmates of other prisons of the USA a chance to learn Vipassana. A successful Vipassana program in the prisons of USA will make it easier to implement it in other countries as well.
True Correction
After the brief talk to meditators Goenkaji met with prison officials including Director of Programs (Dept. of Corrections) Dr Cavanaugh, prison warden Mr. Bullard, Deputy Commissioner Mr Hardison and Dr Marshall. Ms Phillips of Lion Heart Foundation also joined the meeting. Goenkaji expressed appreciation for the initiative taken by these officers to organize Vipassana courses in the Donaldson Facility. Criminals are sent to prison with the aim of correcting their behavior but after spending time in the punitive and crime infested environment of prison they often come out as hardened criminals. For a prison to become truly a correctional facility the inmates should be given tools to reform themselves in order to become honourable members of the society.
Opening the Mind, Opening the Heart
Dr. Marshall described the previous week as a ‘sensational’ week in the prison. She asked three meditators to talk about their experiences in the Vipassana course.
Leon Kennedy sat his first course in January and served this one. He described his experience of sitting the course as opening the mind and that of serving as opening the heart.
Eli Crawford said that Vipassana meditation was very much needed in the prison and he was very thankful for receiving this invaluable gift.
Rick Smith said that he had been incarcerated for 22 years. He had plenty of time to deal with many issues and had forgiven all. But he said that he was never able to forgive himself. He kept running away from himself all these years. Finally Vipassana forced him to face his inner self; to look inward. It was the most difficult task he had ever undertaken but in Vipassana also gave him unparalleled courage and immense clarity to come to terms with the present reality.
Prisoners Within and Without the Walls of Prison
Goenkaji then gave a brief talk to meditators, prison staff and some selected inmates who had not yet taken a Vipassana course. He said that people both within the walls of the prison as well as outside the walls are prisoners of their unwholesome habit patterns. All keep on reacting with negativities such as anger, fear, hatred, jealousy, greed etc. Vipassana liberates one from the prison inside.
After Goenkaji’s inspiring address, inmate meditators asked him questions about their practice. It was touching to see how the Dhamma had reached these people in the most unlikely place and had comforted them.
Just as in the sky different winds blow from east and west, from north and south, dust-laden and dustless, cold or hot, fierce gales or gentle breezes—many winds blow.
So also within the body arise sensations, pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. When a meditator, striving ardently, does not lose his constant thorough understanding of impermanence even for a moment, such a wise person fully comprehends all sensations.
